I have been a story-teller in schools, libraries, etc. for almost 35 years focusing on early Irish stories, mostly text based. My intention has been to make them accessible to all age groups, yet few stories from, the Mythological Cycle, have formed a regular part of my repertoire. This oversight is now addressed on Story Archaeology.
The Mythological Cycle forms a somewhat loose, continuous narrative. To make this complex narrative manageable, for classroom, family, or individual enjoyment, I have structured the narrative into seperate segments of around 15 minutes each.
Each segment is clearly numbered and titled
Each includes two, occasionally three, stories based on, or even told by central characters.
My main goal has been to explore the adventures, relationships and motivations of these colourful characters. The marvels and the magic are present, of course but so is the danger and drama!
Each story includes some background context to help to explain why characters act as they do. .
There will, eventually be, approximately, twelve audio stories. Seven have already been published.
A few general thoughts on the Cath Maige Tuired for those who would like to find out more.
The themes that form this story cycle may be very old indeed but, even in the early medieval versions that have come down to us today, philological experts can identify language from the 6th or 7th century, if not even earlier.
The modern retellings of this cycle are few. Elizabeth Grey’s direct translation from 1983 is excellent but is a textual translation, not a re-telling. Thanks to Isolde’s expertise in early Irish I have been privileged a to delve more deeply into the text, including the early ‘Rosc’ poetry, not translated by Grey.
When asked for re-tellings, I have generally recommended Lady Gergory’s “Gods and Fighting Men’. It was a close cpmpanion of my youth but was publishe over 120 years ago.
Many of the characters encountered in the Cath Maige Tuired, are still well-known in Irish mythology. They are fequently titled as ‘Irish gods and goddesses’. This is not wrong, but, in terms of the Mythological cycle stories, it can prove misleading. The characters in this cycle are presented as human, with added marvelous specialities, but human. They can be better appreciated as ancestors, cultural heroes and founders.
The epic tale of the Cath Maige Tuired, the battle of Moytura was the story that inspired my passion for the early Irish tales. It had everything; fascinating, mysterious characters and world-altering battles. The Elizabeth Grey translation became my close companion. And yet, I always felt that there were deeper, more subtle levels that I could not quite reach. I was also slightly annoyed by the, gaps, the missing unavailable poetry ” There is more but it has not been translated“.. And so, when I, at last, came to live in the landscape where much of it was set. I walked the boulder strewn Moytura plain, stood by the River Unshin and encountered the Labby Rock, where it is said that Nuada was buried.
The founding of the Moytura re-enactment and festival in the Millenium year allowed for further and deeper immersion in the story. It was after the festival that Isolde went back to Trinity to take her Masters in early Irish. She finally, created translations of the missing Rosc poetry of the Morrigan, for her disdertation. It took us some years, but it has been a huge pleasure to explore the story cycle.
From my introduction to Story Archaeology Series 2
